Clunk on left turn in front end

I have been recently trying to track down a clunk/popping noise coming from my front end. The noise typically happens during a hard left hand turn going 5-25 mph, bumps and inclines seem to aggravate the sound. I do have a very minimal vibration in the front 45-55 mph. Sometimes around 70 as well, I believe they may be my beefy tires.

During the winter, I noticed a humming in 4WD from the front while driving through the snow about 25-30 mph but didnt think anything of it at the time as it was my first winter with my truck.

So far I have, checked my balljoints upper and lower, no play. My sway bar links had some play in them, being easy to replace I threw some new ones on, clunk didnt go away.

Yesterday I crawled under my truck and i wanted to see if the axle had play and found the front Driver CV axle moves up and down qiute a bit where it meets the front diff. Play is more than the passenger side axle.

I have been reading lots of posts on here about the needle bearings going bad in the front differential and replacing that with the updated ECGS bushing. So I am just wondering if anyone else has had this exact issue I am having, if the new bearing has eliminated the excess play, and what is involved in changing that bearing? Does Toyota say that this amount of play is normal? I would love to have them verify something is wrong but I am pretty confident there is too much play. Also stealership. Lol

my plan would be do replace the axle as well as that bushing while I have everything apart. Any info on this would be great, thanks guys.

 

2wd with the same problem turning right out of my parking spot which has a speed bump right at crank, only after I back in to the spot and that’s the only time. Recently replaced inner and outer tie rods, LCAs, struts and fresh alignment. 06’ Salvage title so idk maybe she’s just old and whiney

 

You might also check your body mount bushings up front. Super easy to change out.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...our-leaf-springs.464993/page-16#post-25920683

 

Hey even my 2011 is old and whiney thanks to New England salty ass roads

 

GreyComa, I didnt even think about that, I bet all my body mount bushings should be replaced, I also have a noise in the rear that I live with because Im convinced it’s my leaf springs doing their thing. I could definitely try replacing some body mount bushings. Thanks. I just saw that play in my front axle and immediately assumed I needed a front axle.

 

Usually the test for the front needle bearing is shifting into 4wd and the noises go away. It's an easy enough change, you might even find a local member you could borrow the tool.

Pulling the axle is like 4 bolts, then fighting with the axle to get it to pop out and then back in. There are some good threads here reviewing that process.